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2015 is shaping up to be the comeback year for a lot of Aussie rock bands. Sydney’s Mission in Motion dropped a new long player a few months back, Perth’s Tired Lion with recent single “I Don’t Think You Like Me and ditto Melbourne’s Anchors with their great track Stay Fast amongst others. Now it’s the turn of another Melbourne rock outfit in the form of City Calm Down.
Rabbit Run sees City Calm Down utilise their new wave influences with finesse and style. The first taste of In a Restless House, and we can’t wait for more.
Whilst the band will be playing a few local sold out gigs in the near future and have been given a spot on the recently announced BIGSOUND conference in Brisbane early September, the band have been in a bit of a hiatus since their critically-hailed 2012 debut EP.
New album In a Restless House however is due for a September release (pre-orders can be purchased here), courtesy of local label I OH YOU, home to other luminary acts such as Brisbane’s Violent Soho and DZ Deathrays. As an appetiser, first single Rabbit Run was recently released and on first spin, will take listeners’ of a certain generation back to a place where New Wave music reigned supreme; the early 80’s.
The gorgeous, haunting, synth-tinged ambience (that only Love Will Tear Us Apart could better) serves as a backdrop for an opening of an infectious-as-hell higher noted bass riff (that Mr. New Order himself, Peter Hook, would be proud to call his own) and a simple lead riff. As an aside, New Order’s debut album back in 1980 was entitled Movement so it may be more than a coincidence that CCD’s debut EP was called Movements!
Along with opening baritone vocals which are softly narrated over a classic 80’s floor tom/snare combo drum pattern, vocals and musical accompaniment increases intensity half way through but the riffs doesn’t really change throughout – the whole song is simplicity in itself, which is the backbone for any great, memorable track.
It’s the love child of Joy Division meets New Order meets Lloyd Cole or in today’s world, The National melding with White Lies. It is easy to see the buzz that is gathering momentum around City Calm Down at the moment and with it already garnishing airplay overseas, it’s easy to see why this single is a hands-down contender for “Single of The Year”! You read it here first.
It would be unfair to write CCD off as just a Joy Division tribute band because at the end of the day you still need the voice, the ideas, the passion and I still say that imitation IS the best form of flattery. Besides, there will always only ever be one Joy Division.
Open letter to the band: “Dear City Calm Down, More of this, please. Regards, Australian Appreciation Society of Might Fine Bands”.
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